Photographic light-diffusing apparatus.



N. LOSEY. I PHOTOGRAPHIQ LIGHT DIFFUSING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 9, 1907.

Patented June 1, 1909.

A TIORNEY.

NORTH LOSEY, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHT-DIFFUSING APPARATUS.

. Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Application filed December 9,1907. Serial No. 405,791.

To all whom it may coricern:

Be it-known that I, NoR'rH-LosEY, .a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in PhotographicLight- Difl'using Ap aratus; and I do declare the following to e a full,clear, and exact descri tion of the invention, reference being had to te accomfpanying drawings, and to the characters 0 reference markedthereon, which form a art of this specification.

This invention relates to. apparatus for reflecting and diffusingartificial light ,to enable photographers to obtain improved results inphotographing various subjects or objects, the invention havingreference particularly to apparatus whereb an electric light or otherstrong artificial ight may be reflected and diffused onto thephotographic subject Without permitting direct rays of light to fall onthe subject.

The objects of the invention are to rovide apparatus whereby strongartificial light may be reflected and diffused onto an object to bephotographed, so that the light may be softened or modified and havedifferent character from that of direct rays of light, in order that thesubject may be enveloped in the light without casting strong-shadowswith substantially the same results as may be obtained during daylight,an object being to provide apparatus of the above-mentioned characterthat may be adapted to be readily transported and used with )ortablephotographing apparatus, particu arly as an aid to commercialphotographers.

The invention comprises a standard, "a frame mounted on the standard anda concavo-convex reflector and difluser mounted on the frame, and areflector for reflecting the .light onto the combined reflector anddiffuser and shading the subject from the direct rays of light, theinvention consisting further in a folding combined reflector an diffuserhaving a shading reflector connected thereto. And the invention consistsfurther in the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts ashereinafter particularly described and defined in the claims appendedhereto.- j I Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the photographic li 'ht diffusing apparatus; Fi 2, an inverted p anview ofthe combined reflector and diffuser;

Fig. 3,.a perspective view of the combined pivoted thereto so that theyreflector and diffuser having the shading reflector connected theretoand provided with means for carrying away the smoke and fumes resultingfrom flash lights Fig. 4, a top'plan view of the shading reflector; Fig;5, a vertical sectional view of the shad ing reflector on the line A inFig. 4, and connected to a portion of the combined reflectorand-diffuser; Fig. 6, a fragmentary sectional view; of the stem of theframe of the apparatus; and, Fig 7, a fragmentary central sectional viewof the' combined reflector and diffuser and its frame.

Similar reference characters in the several .figures of the drawingsdesignate correspond ing elements or features of construction.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, a suitable base is providedwhich preferably is in the form of a tripod havin legs a and a hollowstandard I), provided wit a setscrew 0, a hollow standardsection (Ztelescoping into the standard 6 and provided with a set-screw -e,another standard section f telescoping into the section (1, the latterbeing secured by the set-screw c, the tripod preferably beingconstructedso as to be folded as customary, and the standard beingextensr ble or contractible, as will be apparent. A frame stem 9 has asocket h therein approxi mately at the middle of its length, thesocketextending into the side of the stem obliquely and is preferablyscrew-threaded and receives theupper end i of the sectionf, the upperend being preferably screw-threaded, and in some cases as shown in Fig.6, a socket extension 7' may be applied to the stem and be provided withaset screw 7c for securing the stem gto the section f of the standard. Acollar Z is suitably secured to the upper end of thestem .g and has asuitable-number of frame rlbsm may swing downwardly against the stem g.A runner n is mounted on the stem g and has a suitable number of braces0 pivoted thereto and extending severally to the several r bs m to whichthey are pivoted. A web is spread upon the ribs m and attached theretoso as to form the necessary surface of a combined reflector anddiffuser, the reflecting side p of the Web being concave and suitablywhitened as by means of paint but is not glossed, the

outer convex side 1) preferabl y being of dark color. The web is comosed of any suitable fabric that may be fol ed and painted-successfully.The stem 9 is provided with a latch q to hold the runner n when movedofinish of surface, diifus ably ward the collar Z, so as to spread theweb, and when the runner is released from the latch q, the runner may bemoved off of the lower end of the stem 9 to fold the web. The web inplan is preferably substantially'oval, so as to e greater in diameter ina horizontal direction as from 1' to 1" than vertically as from s to sin Fig. 2, a suitable numberof the ribs 111.

being longer than others to support the web in its reater diameter. Theoval form gives desira le results in reflecting the light to the bestadvantage for photographing urposes. It will be observed, especially byreference to Fig. 1,. that the combined reflector and'diffuser stands atan inclined angle, so as to reflect the light downwardly onto a subject,and by reason of the concavity of its reflecting surface, the light mabe reflected in an approximately horizonta direction and also towardboth sides of the subject, both directly and crosswise,"the reflectingsurface not being polished or brightbut having dull the light withoutfocusing it. The upper portion of the web has an aperture t therein nearits edge around'which is a protecting ring it prefercomposed of asbestosor similar material, to which is attached a suitable number of eyes 1;.A shading reflector comprises a concavo-convex back w and sides w and w,and a curved bottom as as in Fig. 1, or having. a flat bottom a: as inFig. 3, the reflector be ing provided with a suitable number of hooks yat the top thereof adapted to be connected to the eyes '0, and asuitable electric lamp 2 may be hung above the opening if when theapparatusis used in a photographic studio, and the lamp may be loweredby any suitable means through the opening t into the shadin reflector,am: the latter Wlll concentrate an reflect the light against the concaveside 1) of the combined'reflector and diffuser while preventing thedirect light from falling on the subject which will be opposite the sidep. The shading reflector may of course be made so as to be folded ifdesired, and when desired to use flash lights therein, it preferably hasthe flat bottom a: on which to roduce the light, either by explodingsuitab e powder or by means of a lamp. When chemicals are employed inproducing a flash light and smoke and fumes result, a hood 8 isprovidedwhich is to be placed above the opening 25 and has a flexible tube 9. Asuction fan 10 may be provided having a case 11 to which the tube 9 isto be connected, so that the fan will draw away and expel the fumes, itbeing preferable to place the fan at an opening in the wall of thebuilding in which the operations ma be performed.

t is to be understood that various ma; terials may-be em loyed inconstruction f the apparatus, an if desired the shading reflector may besuitably supported independently of the combined re ector and difto awagon umbrella, whichin some cases may be a convenient form ofconstruction, but the invention is not limited to such specificconstruction. g

In practical use, as will be ap arent, the

apparatus may be readily folde for transportation or unfolded and set ufor use. The combined reflector and diffiiser may suitably be adjustedso as to be slightly higher than'the photographic camera, and may standnear the camera without interfering with the range of vision while theobject is arranged op osite to the concave side 1) and shaded by t eback w of the shading reflector. When the light is produced in theshading reflector, the back and'sides and the bottom thereof togetherconcentrate and reflect the light only against the reflecting side p ofthe combined reflector and diffuser, so that the subject need not beexposed to the direct rays of light, the light being reflected in asubdued degree and effectually diffused over the subject, as will beapparent, the improved result being due partlally to the various anglesof the different portions of the web between the frame ribs m wherebythe light is reflected at many different angles. The results also willbe better obtained if the ribs and other portions of the frame-workopposite to the side 1) be coated with white paint. The standard ofcourse may be moved more or less as may be required to throw the lightroperly upon the subject.

Having thus escribed t e invention, What is claimed as new is Q 1. Photoraphic light apparatus including a stem, a plurality of ribs mounted onthe stem, an oval reflector and-difiuser mounted on the ribs and havingan aperture in an edge portion thereof, braces extending from the stemto the ribs, and a shading reflector to be connected to the reflectorand diffuser at the ap erture therein.

hotographic light apparatus including I two reflectors, both havingconcave surfaces that are disposed oppositely one to the other, one ofthe. reflectors bein a shading reflector and the other one a iifusingreflector to reflect light from the shading reflector beyond the shadingreflector and around the farther side thereof, means for. adjustablysupporting theldiflusing'reflector, and means for supporting the shadingreflector in relatively close relation tothe dif-- fusin reflector.

3. hotographic light'ap aratus including artificial light in the shadingreflector, a suction fan, a hood arranged above the reflector anddifl'user at the aperture therein, and a conduit between the hood andthe fan.

4. .Photo raphic light apparatus including a stem, aflp lurality of ribsmounted on the stem, 2. re ector and diffuser mounted on the ribs andprovided with means for supporting l a shading reflector, bracesextending from the stem to the ribs, a shading reflector having means tobe connected to the supporting" means, and means the stem for supportinisupporting also t reflector.

5; Photographic light apparatus comprising a standard, a stem removablyconnected e shading I to the standard, a reflector and difluser having aconcave surface and mounted on the stem to fold thereon and having anaperture in an edge portion thereof, connecting de vices attached to thereflector and diffuser at the aperture, 9. shading reflector having aconcave surface dis osed oppositely to the concave surface of tiiereflector and diffuser, andmeans detachably ing reflector with theconnecting devices.

In testimony whereof, I afllx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

, NORTH LOSEY. Witnesses:

WM. H. PAYNE, E. T. SILVIUS.

connecting the shad-

